‘As it happens you’re quite right,’ he agreed. ‘But you know you should prepare yourself, because one of these days whoever that someone is might just come along to claim her back.’

Sunday was only too well aware of that possibility but didn’t allow herself to dwell on it, for how would she cope, if someone were to take Kitty away from her?

Rising from her seat, she told him, ‘I’d best go up and take over from my mother for a while. That’s if I can persuade her to leave Zillah.’

‘Of course.’ And as he watched her leave the room, his heart ached for his wife.

Chapter Four

The next day, 30 December, it was decided that the New Year’s Eve party they had planned would have to be cancelled. Zillah was no better – in fact, her condition had deteriorated – and so George and Tom set off in the snow to inform the guests personally as Lavinia and Sunday took it in turns to sit with the sick woman. Lavinia was so worried about her beloved friend that she looked almost as frail as the invalid did – and now Sunday was concerned about her mother too.

‘Please go and rest, Mother. You’re going to be ill too at this rate,’ she pleaded, but Lavinia took no notice.

‘I’m fine,’ she assured her daughter, her eyes never leaving Zillah’s face. Zillah had been delirious since the evening before. ‘I need to be here when she wakes up.’

If she wakes up, Sunday found herself thinking but she didn’t voice her fears. Her mother was frightened enough as it was.

‘Dr Cushion seems to think that if this fever breaks, she might start to recover,’ Lavinia said then, but as she said it she knew that she was clutching at straws. In actual fact, the doctor had appeared to be very concerned when he had left less than an hour earlier. So much so that he had promised to come in later that afternoon to check on Zillah again.

‘In that case I shall go and fetch you a tray up,’ Sunday told her. ‘You haven’t eaten or drunk a thing today.’ And with that she swept from the room with her mother’s protests ringing in her ears. It felt strangely quiet as she descended the stairs. The older children were playing outside in the snow and the younger ones were being entertained by Em’ly and Cissie in the library where their noise wouldn’t disturb Zillah. Normally they would be racing around the hall and along the corridors, and Sunday found the silence ominous.

Down in the kitchen, Mrs Rose quickly made up a tray of sandwiches and a pot of tea for Lavinia. She also added a thick wedge of her delicious sponge cake, oozing jam and cream, but Sunday doubted that her mother would even touch it. Still, it was worth a try.

‘I don’t know what we’re supposed to do with all this food I made for the party,’ Mrs Rose lamented, gesturing towards the laden tables. ‘I dare say it’ll all go to waste now. There’s far too much for us to eat.’